Former Congress minister Nitin Raut has urged the Election Commission to take immediate action against BJP minister Ashish Shelar for alleging duplicate Muslim voters.
“Today, Ashish Shelar, in a press conference, mentioned North Nagpur and gave data claiming that there are 8,342 ‘duplicate Muslim votes’, while also mentioning me. This is nothing but a cheap political ploy aimed at diverting public attention from the real issues,” Nitin Raut said.
“This accusation is not just political propaganda but also a deliberate attempt to divide society on religious lines and engage in sectarian appeasement ahead of the elections,” Nitin Raut said in a statement issued on Monday.
“In fact, preparing the voter list falls under the purview of the Election Commission. If there is ‘vote theft’, as Shiller claims, it is happening under the BJP government – which means he has publicly admitted to committing irregularities and theft under his government,” Raut said.
“This, in essence, validates Rahul Gandhi’s ongoing ‘Vote for Korean’ campaign – and Shelar has, in a way, confirmed it,” he said.
The Congress leader said: “I belong to a party that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself is trying to erase from the country. However, according to Shelar, I can somehow change the voter list in my constituency at will. Doesn’t this go against the principles and teachings of Mr. Narendra Modi himself?”
“If, being in the opposition, I can manipulate the voters’ list in my constituency to include the names I want, then according to Sheller’s logic, the BJP – being in power – can easily change the voters’ lists in any constituency across Maharashtra. Ultimately, this becomes their own recognition,” he said.
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“Every time Dalits, Muslims, OBCs and other marginalized citizens unite and raise their voices against the injustice of those in power, the BJP calls it a ‘jihad’. This clearly shows that the BJP never views voters as citizens, but only through the lens of religion and caste.
More seriously, Shelar’s statement falls under Sections 153A and 295A of the Indian Penal Code, and Section 123(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which classify such statements as promoting hatred or seeking votes on religious grounds.
“The Election Commission has the constitutional authority and duty to act against such statements,” he said.
“Then the question arises – when BJP ministers themselves make statements citing religion in the context of votes, why does the Election Commission remain silent? Is the Election Commission of this country truly impartial and loyal to the Constitution?,” Raut argued.
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Therefore, he said: “I call on the Election Commission to review Shelar’s statement immediately, initiate an official investigation, and take appropriate legal action.”
“The people of North Nagpur are constitutional citizens, not religious subjects. They will stand united against injustice and protect the Constitution,” he added.
(tags for translation) BJP Ashish Shelar
